Haunted Heirlooms & Dastardly Diamonds

Spooky season may be over, but, for some there's no escaping the things that go bump in the night when they're hiding in the attic. Metaphorical skeletons are one thing but cursed gems, creepy dolls, and tomb loot are just some of the cursed objects throughout the world. Whether or not you believe in curses, there's no denying that there's something seriously sinister going on with these objects.

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1. Robert The Doll

Spoiler alert: Robert isn't the most famous (or bloodthirsty) doll on this list, but he's no slouch in the curse department. Unlike some of the other objects on this list, Robert doesn't wish death upon those who disrespect him, only "car accidents, broken bones, job loss, and divorce." If you want to visit Robert in Key West, make sure you ask for permission before taking his photo!

Cayobo from Key West, The Conch Republic on Wikimedia

2. Tomb Of Tutankhamun

According to legend, an inscription found on the tomb of Tutankhamun wished death and destruction upon those who disturbed his eternal slumber. Curse tablets were par for the course as tomb robberies were common. Within two years, three of the men who uncovered the tomb perished from pneumonia, blood poisoning, and cancer.

Roland Unger on Wikimedia

3. Regent Diamond

Diamonds and other precious gems are among the most famous type of curse objects—especially when they're stolen. Discovered by an enslaved man in India, the Regent Diamond, along with the life of its discoverer were both unfairly taken by the British in 1698. Eager to get rid of the cursed stone, the British sold it to the French royal family, where it was worn by Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, and Napoleon Bonaparte, all of whom ended their lives in misery.

mickaelschauli on Wikimedia

4. Man Proposes, God Disposes

Inspired by one of the most mysterious and deadly expeditions in Polar history, Edwin Landseer's painting Man Proposes, God Disposes is spooky even without a curse. Hanging in the picture gallery of Royal Holloway University, anyone who sits in front of the painting during an exam is doomed to fail. Tradition states that it must be covered with a Union Jack during exams.

Edwin Landseer on Wikimedia

5. Little Bastard

In addition to being one of the most iconic and exciting actors of the 1950s, James Dean was also an avid racecar driver. After being barred from racing during the filming of Giant, Dean purchased a Porsche 550, which he nicknamed "Little Bastard". Fellow actor Alex Guinness warned Dean that if he got in that car, he would be found dead by next week, which he was, at the tragic age of 24.

Spurzem on Wikimedia

6. Ötzi The Iceman

Ötzi the Iceman had a violent end to his life when he was shot in the back 4000 years ago. Since he was was discovered in 1991, Ötzi has made numerous contributions to science—and people's early graves. In addition to car crashes and brain tumors, several of Ötzi's victims died similarly to the iceman himself in blizzards and avalanches.

Melotzi5713 on Wikimedia

7. The Dark Mirror

One of the few cursed objects that you can view from the comfort of your own home, the Dark Mirror is part of the Traveling Museum of the Paranormal and Occult's permanent collection. This spooky pitch-black mirror reportedly shows haunting visions of the future. The Traveling Museum's entire collection is visible online, so you can see for yourself...if you dare. 

Savannah B. on Unsplash

8. Gold Of Tolosa

Forget the motherlode Nic Cage finds in National Treasure, the ancient Romans did it first. Taken from a town near modern-day Toulouse, the Gold of Tolosa was a monumental treasure hoard that brought misfortune, death, and ruin to those who stole it. Somehow, 496 tons of gold and silver went missing in the 2nd Century CE, but not before ruining several lives.

Pixabay on Pexels

9. Busby's Stoop Chair

Thomas Busby was hanged in 1702, long before the electric chair was used for executions—but that didn't stop him from cursing a chair of his own! Before he met his end, Busby set a curse upon anyone who sat in his favorite no-frills pub chair. To prevent the chair from claiming further lives, it was hung from the ceiling of a museum.

Maigheach-gheal  on Wikimedia

10. The Terracotta Army

A cursed UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Terracotta Army of Shaanxi were burried with Qin Shi Huang, China's first emperor. After the army was discovered (and disturbed) in 1964, the 2000-year-old village above it was bulldozed to make room for giftshops, disrupting countless lives for the sake of profit. Is this a curse or merely bad luck—you tell us!

Rasmus Gundorff Sæderup on Unsplash

11. The Black Orlov

Nobody's quite sure where the Black Orlov diamond came from or who found it, but it's believed to have been taken from the eye of a statue of Brahma, one of the most important gods in Hinduism. The Black Orlov is responsible for at least three suicides, though the curse has been quiet since the diamond was cut into three pieces. If there's one thing you should take away from this article, it's that greed will get you nowhere. 

Trishtha on Wikimedia

12. Mi Novia

Juan Luna's Portrait of a Lady could also be called Portrait of a Curse, as past owners have suffered bankruptcy, automobile accidents, and other sorrows. Inside the painting is believed to lie the spirit of the artist's wife, Paz Pardo de Tavera, who was killed in a crime of passion. While the painting does not depict Luna's wife, that hasn't stopped it from exploding a spotlight during an exhibition.

Juan Luna on Wikimedia

13. The Paintings Of Arshile Gorky

A single cursed painting is one thing, but what about an entire artist's cursed repertoire? That's exactly the case with Arshile Gorky, survivor of the Armenian genocide. Gorky's paintings have been reported to catch fire, commune with ghosts, and fall from walls; 15 of Gorky's paintings, along with 95 lives were lost when American Airlines Flight 1 crashed in 1962.  

Arshile Gorky on Wikimedia

14. Koh-i-Noor

One of the largest cut diamonds in the world, the Kohi-Noor diamond comes with an 186-carat curse. Swapped between hands, dynasties, and empires, the gem was said to kill any man who owns it. Since it was acquired by the British in 1849, the diamond has only been worn by women; clearly the royal family is aware of the curse!

aiva. on Wikimedia

15. The Chained Oak

Venture into the forest near Alton, England, and you'll find a chained up like a prisoner. According to legend, the tree was cursed by an old woman, denied charity by the Earl of Shewsbury; for each branch that fell, so would a member of the Earl's family. The Cursed Oak is chained up for its own safety as the Earl's descendants, one of which was claimed the curse the night it was cast.

Brian Deegan  on Wikimedia

16. The Swansea Devil

Old Nick the Swansea Devil is on display at Wales' oldest museum—but that isn't its original home. After his design for the prestigious St. Mary's Church was rejected, a local architect erected this impervious imp across from the church with the prophecy "When your church is destroyed and burnt to the ground, my devil will remain laughing." This is exactly what happened in 1941 during the Blitz.

Nicky Thomas on Wikimedia

17. The Dybbuk Box

This antique wine cabinet believed to be owned by a Holocaust survivor is teeming with spirits—and not the alcoholic kind. A dybbuk is a demon-like spirit from Jewish mythology and, if there's one thing we know about demons, it's that you don't want them in your house. Sadly (but possibly for the best) the Dybbuk Box was revealed to be a hoax in 2021.

KennyBiddle on Wikimedia

18. The Crying Boy

There are numerous versions of the mass-produced painting, but they all have one thing in common: house fires. While The Crying Boy doesn't necessarily cause these fires, it almost always survives them, even when few else does. However, this is due less to supernatural causes and more to fire retardant varnish.

Isaac Quesada on Unsplash

19. The Hope Diamond

This beautiful blue diamond is as famous for its curse as it is for its size and color. Previous owners of the diamond have taken their own lives, lost children and loved ones, and have even been torn apart by angry mobs. Today, the Hope Diamond is safely behind glass at the Smithsonian, where millions of tourists visit it each year.

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20. Annabelle

Probably the most famous object on this list, some people may argue that the Raggedy Ann doll known as "Annabelle" is possessed rather than cursed. We don't want to get into semantics here; whatever is living inside this doll (aside from stuffing) has a serious mean streak. Those who have only seen The Conjuring films may be surprised by the real Annabelle's cute and cuddly appearance.

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